Under the patronage of Dr. Abdelaziz Konsowa, President of Alexandria University, the Community Service and Environmental Development Sector, headed by Dr. Afaf El-Oufi, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, launched the “Towards a Safe Environment” initiative. The initiative aims to enhance environmental safety and protect the health of humans and animals within the university campus and its surrounding community.

The launch ceremony was attended by Dr. Heba Sabri Salama, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at El-Shatby, and Dr. Mahmoud El-Maghrabi, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in addition to representatives of civil society and student unions from the Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Afaf El-Oufi emphasized that the university attaches great importance to its role in addressing environmental and community issues, noting that the initiative includes a series of activities such as cooperation with civil society organizations, organizing vaccination and sterilization campaigns for animals, as well as awareness programs and seminars on safe and responsible animal handling.

In her speech, Dr. Heba Sabri Salama, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, stated that the initiative aims to instill a culture of environmental balance among students and the community, and to contribute to creating a healthy environment that protects both humans and animals.

Dr. Mahmoud El-Maghrabi, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, confirmed that vaccinating and sterilizing animals represents a crucial step in reducing the spread of zoonotic diseases, noting that the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine supports the initiative with its scientific and medical expertise in support of these national efforts.

It is worth mentioning that the first phase of the initiative was launched at the Faculty of Agriculture in El-Shatby, in cooperation with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Directorate of Alexandria, under the supervision of Dr. Randa Darwish, and with the participation of animal welfare commissioners Mohamed El-Gazzar and Mohamed El-Nozahi, along with a group of professors from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and veterinarians from the directorate. The campaign included vaccinating and sterilizing free-roaming dogs and injecting females to prevent reproduction, which is a necessary measure that contributes to reducing disease transmission and achieving balanced population management on campus and in surrounding areas.